Online retailer Kogan has started selling digital SLRs from Canon and Nikon on its website, as well as a range of tablets, undercutting Australian recommended retail prices.

(Credit: Canon)

Kogan is best known for selling its own brand of TVs, home audio and video products, and even coffee machines. "Whether it is manufacturing our own Kogan brand of products, or now sourcing the world's biggest brands, we can cut out all the middle men to guarantee the best prices and service," Kogan said.

The new products available, including Apple's iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet, are covered by 12-month warranties. Kogan did not comment on whether the products were purchased overseas as grey market imports, or from the Australian distributors directly. "To secure the prices we are able to sell these products for, we have cut out more middle men and gone higher up the supply chain," Kogan said.

Like a range of products, SLR cameras have their own warranty quirks depending on the place of purchase. Generally, if a product is bought in Australia from a local distributor, the product is covered by the manufacturer's local warranty. Grey market imports are usually not covered by the manufacturer's local warranty and have to be shipped back to where the product was originally sourced from to be serviced, should a problem arise during the warranty period.

Kogan said that some of the products offered for sale (apart from the iPad 2, which is covered by a worldwide Apple warranty) will be replaced with a brand new unit by Kogan should there be a fault during the warranty period.

Here is a comparison table showing some of the price differences between Kogan's store, Australian RRPs and another Australian store selling grey import cameras.

Kogan may also branch out to sell additional photographic accessories in the future. "We'll certainly consider selling lenses and photographic accessories if our customers call out for it! We listen to each word that is said about our business on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and forums, and if that's what people want we'll do our best to get them the best prices!" Kogan said.

This move from Kogan comes just a month after Canon announced it would cut some Australian RRPs on over 95 products in its range. Canon Australia was contacted for comment, but had not provided a response at the time of writing.

Updated at 2pm, 14 September 2011: Canon has no comment on Kogan's announcement.